Winter Roars Back

As the calendar flips from February into March, the Lion of Winter continues to roar. Another plowable snowstorm is barreling across the county ready to pounce on New England - again. Sure, we can raise our snow shovels and stamp our Sorrel boots in protest, but is there really anything we beleaguered New Englanders can we do to tame this beast? They say music soothes that savage beast, but I’m going to go with food. The best kind of...

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Shifting Direction

I think I have sewing ADD. Since starting my 1770's stays in December, I've also started a 1780 hybrid stays pattern, modified a Victorian walking skirt pattern to be wearable as 21st century office attire, am working on my English gown, the petticoat is waiting to be hemmed and I recently bought material from William Booth for my bed jacket. The 1770's stays need binding and lining, the English gown is on hold until the second half of the...

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Running with Stitches

I've been sewing since the tender age of seven, when my Irish grandmother Mary Margaret, also known as Mamie, handed me a threaded needle, a scrap of material and taught me how to make a simple running stitch. I bought my first sewing machine when I was 15. Over the years, I made some of my own clothes, clothes for my kids, curtains, Christmas gifts, carry-all bags, dolls, and more. If it had a pattern - even if it didn't - I'd make it. I forayed...

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The English Gown Project

A few weeks ago, I took part one of a two-part English Gown workshop with Hallie & Steph using their brand new Larkin & Smith pattern. The end result will be a fully authentic, hand-stitched gown ready to wear for the Patriot's Day activities in Minute Man National Park this April. I had a fabric design in mind, something I'd seen in Colonial Williamsburg (of course) and spent hours trolling boards on Pinterest, historic and costuming...

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The Gift that Keeps on Giving

The Massachusetts winter of 2013-2014 can be best described as the gift that keeps on giving. I wish I could re-gift it to Florida. We’ve had records amount of snow, bone chilling cold and on Thursday, Mother Nature had another hissy fit, dumping the trifecta of winter fun – snow, sleet and rain, up and down the east coast. With another 12 inches piled up in our front and back yards, (I’m fairly certain we’re not going to see our grill until May) my poor hubby gave the Little Snow Blower that Could another workout, chugging up and down 200 feet...

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In the Eye of the Creative Storm

I'm in the eye of the perfect creative storm. (And if you're reading this post, it means I've completed one of my To Do items - redesigning this blog.) It's totally self-imposed and it's not a bad thing. In fact, I'm energized but exhausted. There just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do - sewing projects, genealogy, paper crafts and more.  Craft season, as my husband calls it, doesn't follow the calendar. It kicks...

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Staying in Character

There are two elements key to historical interpretation – knowing your subject and dressing the part. During Weston’s 300th anniversary celebration, I had the opportunity to meet Steph Smith and Hattie Larkin, both beautifully (and authentically) costumed in 1770’s attire. While chatting with Steph, I learned about The Hive, a living history community group with a focused interest on the Minute Men and Battle Road, the scene of the first shots...

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